The Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge before a Federal High Court in Abuja against former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, alongside six others, over an alleged plot to wage war against Nigeria and commit acts of terrorism.
The other defendants include Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, Erasmus Victor, Ahmed Ibrahim, as well as Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani. They are expected to be arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, while Sylva is reportedly at large.
The charge, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), accuses the defendants of offences ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
At the centre of the case is an allegation that the defendants conspired in 2025 to undermine the Nigerian state. According to the charge, they “conspired with one another to levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” an offence under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
The prosecution further alleged that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to inform authorities.
The charge states that they, “knowing that and was intended to commit treason, did not give the information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President or a Peace Officer.”
In another count, the defendants were accused of failing to take steps to prevent the alleged act, as they “did not use any reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence.”
Beyond treason, the Federal Government is prosecuting the defendants under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, alleging that they “conspired with one another to commit an act of terrorism in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Specifically, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were accused of participating in meetings linked to terrorist activities. Prosecutors claim they acted “in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilize the constitutional structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The charge also alleges that the defendants provided support for terrorism, stating that they “knowingly and indirectly, rendered support” to facilitate such acts.
Additionally, the prosecution accused them of withholding critical intelligence, claiming they “had information which would be of material assistance in preventing the commission of the act of terrorism, but failed to disclose the information to the relevant agency as soon as practicable.”
The case also includes financial allegations tied to terrorism financing. Bukar Goni is accused of retaining N50 million suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly held N2 million from a similar source.
Zekeri Umoru was said to have “without going through a financial institution, accepted a cash payment of the sum of N10million” and retained an additional N8.8 million linked to the alleged scheme. Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim is also accused of possessing N1 million connected to the same allegations.
All financial-related charges were filed under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
What you should know
The Federal Government has charged former minister Timipre Sylva and six others with treason, terrorism, and money laundering over an alleged 2025 plot to destabilise Nigeria.
Prosecutors claim the defendants conspired to wage war against the state, failed to report planned treason, and participated in activities linked to terrorism. Some are also accused of handling funds suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing. Sylva is reportedly at large, while others are set to be arraigned in court.
The case highlights serious national security concerns and could become a major legal and political development depending on how the trial unfolds.
